Fiat 500 or Mini - £5k budget
Discussion
Wife wants one of the above (despite my suggestions they aren't known to be reliable cars!), and also in auto, anything specific engine wise to avoid?
I seem to recall minis have a fair few issues with oil leaks/timing chains of that era/budget?
We also had a friend who's 500 had many dodgy wiring loom issues in the tailgate etc, but hey ho it's only to be used for short town trips, and will do less than 5k pa miles.
Cheers
I seem to recall minis have a fair few issues with oil leaks/timing chains of that era/budget?
We also had a friend who's 500 had many dodgy wiring loom issues in the tailgate etc, but hey ho it's only to be used for short town trips, and will do less than 5k pa miles.
Cheers
Alfa Pete said:
Despite being a Mini fan and having owned a Mini myself, at this budget I’d recommend the 500.
If your budget had been a bit more I’d have no hesitation recommending the Mini but it would need to be an F56 which is post 2014 and start at around £7k for a good one.
Mine is an f56 and valued at @2k by wbac and trade in, it has around 110k but I'm second owner and a decent car, had it for 70k miles now...think you'll find a decent f56 for less than 7kIf your budget had been a bit more I’d have no hesitation recommending the Mini but it would need to be an F56 which is post 2014 and start at around £7k for a good one.
Well as someone who has both, a 2015 500 1.2 Lounge and a 2017 Mini, albeit a countryman, the first owned from new and the 2nd bought as an ex demo
The Fiat has been 100% reliable, nothing on it has broken and apart from servicing and tyres cost nothing. It’s a great town car and despite being low powered quite fun to drive. I’ve taken it in long journeys and it’s fine on the motorways .. sure it doesn’t feel as solid as the mini but it’s totally ok
The mini feels far more substantial and grown up but is has been more costly to run and I’ve had to have a number of warranty and non warranty repairs on it plus a couple of recalls
If I wanted a car to do everything I’d go for the Mini, if k just wanted a “town car” a 2nd car runabout I’d like go for the 500 it has a real character and I quite enjoy driving it and of course you can park it anywhere
The Fiat has been 100% reliable, nothing on it has broken and apart from servicing and tyres cost nothing. It’s a great town car and despite being low powered quite fun to drive. I’ve taken it in long journeys and it’s fine on the motorways .. sure it doesn’t feel as solid as the mini but it’s totally ok
The mini feels far more substantial and grown up but is has been more costly to run and I’ve had to have a number of warranty and non warranty repairs on it plus a couple of recalls
If I wanted a car to do everything I’d go for the Mini, if k just wanted a “town car” a 2nd car runabout I’d like go for the 500 it has a real character and I quite enjoy driving it and of course you can park it anywhere
I've had a 1.2L 500 for around 7 years now, it's a 11 plate with about 45k miles on it.
Door handles - as mentioned above. These break but you can repair them yourself (I've done both sides). There's some comedy YouTube videos that conveniently skip over the bit where you have to wrestle it out of the hole !
2 weeks ago I had to have the petrol tank filler pipe replaced as it has worn and would piss petrol out if you waited for the pump to click - by then it was too late and there was a fiver of petrol on the floor under the car.
Also I had to have the loom replaced in the boot hatch because over time, all that opening and closing, causes the wires to break, so the only real way to fix it to rewire that section. At the same time, I had to have a new rear number plate bulb fitting, which means a whole new bit (that silver bit that sits above the number plate).
Looking those 3 things up, they seem to be common faults.
I did put a new battery on it recently, more as a precaution really, as it was still on the original one.
It's nothing special, but equally, it's an alright car.
Door handles - as mentioned above. These break but you can repair them yourself (I've done both sides). There's some comedy YouTube videos that conveniently skip over the bit where you have to wrestle it out of the hole !
2 weeks ago I had to have the petrol tank filler pipe replaced as it has worn and would piss petrol out if you waited for the pump to click - by then it was too late and there was a fiver of petrol on the floor under the car.
Also I had to have the loom replaced in the boot hatch because over time, all that opening and closing, causes the wires to break, so the only real way to fix it to rewire that section. At the same time, I had to have a new rear number plate bulb fitting, which means a whole new bit (that silver bit that sits above the number plate).
Looking those 3 things up, they seem to be common faults.
I did put a new battery on it recently, more as a precaution really, as it was still on the original one.
It's nothing special, but equally, it's an alright car.
At this price point it would be the 500 everytime.
Vintage:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202312114...
Lounge with Pan Roof:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202312154...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202309272...
Diesel (it's a petrol) Edition:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311234...
Vintage:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202312114...
Lounge with Pan Roof:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202312154...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202309272...
Diesel (it's a petrol) Edition:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311234...
Richard-390a0 said:
200Plus Club said:
and also in auto...
so everyone is mentioning / sharing manual cars. 
I gather that the Mini engine to really avoid was the 1.6 turbo in the early R56 Cooper S, as iirc, it had direct injection whereas the n/a ones didn't.
Like many other contributors, the Fiat 500 every time. A few family members have owned them with great reliability and low running costs. The Alfa Mito we’ve owned for 9 years has also been a joy to own with low maintenance costs.
We also own a Mini Clubman and as a 2nd car I resent some of the large repair bills it’s thrown at me in spite of having it meticulously serviced every 12 months and 8k miles. I would have replaced it as we’ve had it 3 and half years. However the Wife would only want another Mini or 1 series so I can’t see the point.
We also own a Mini Clubman and as a 2nd car I resent some of the large repair bills it’s thrown at me in spite of having it meticulously serviced every 12 months and 8k miles. I would have replaced it as we’ve had it 3 and half years. However the Wife would only want another Mini or 1 series so I can’t see the point.
biggbn said:
Mine is an f56 and valued at @2k by wbac and trade in, it has around 110k but I'm second owner and a decent car, had it for 70k miles now...think you'll find a decent f56 for less than 7k
You are correct. I’m out of date with recent prices.Had a quick look on AT and looks like you can get one for around 5k if you avoid high mileage and Cat D examples.
For me that’d maybe put the Mini back in contention but as mentioned elsewhere parts and servicing will be more expensive than for the Fiat.
I think your £5k buys a nicer 500 .
Canon_Fodder said:
OP if your wife is going to be making long journeys then I suggest she goes for a nice long test drive in the 500 as they have an odd driving position and tiny little drivers footwell which can make motorway cruising awkward for some
You get used to it very quickly especially with the sport button on. (595 Abarth). Ive had both, 1.2 Lounge 500 and current drive is a Mini Electric.
I ADORE the Mini, most fun car I've owned, but at the price point I'd agree, the 500. Only thing I'd add to the above is make sure the leaves are cleared from the drain channels under the bonnet or they have a tendency to get a bit damp. Great little cars though.
I ADORE the Mini, most fun car I've owned, but at the price point I'd agree, the 500. Only thing I'd add to the above is make sure the leaves are cleared from the drain channels under the bonnet or they have a tendency to get a bit damp. Great little cars though.
SistersofPercy said:
Ive had both, 1.2 Lounge 500 and current drive is a Mini Electric.
I ADORE the Mini, most fun car I've owned, but at the price point I'd agree, the 500. Only thing I'd add to the above is make sure the leaves are cleared from the drain channels under the bonnet or they have a tendency to get a bit damp. Great little cars though.
Ah yes, you get a sloshing sound when you drive as the water will not drain away. The rubber grommet things were full of mouldy leaf remains in mine !I ADORE the Mini, most fun car I've owned, but at the price point I'd agree, the 500. Only thing I'd add to the above is make sure the leaves are cleared from the drain channels under the bonnet or they have a tendency to get a bit damp. Great little cars though.
snuffy said:
Ah yes, you get a sloshing sound when you drive as the water will not drain away. The rubber grommet things were full of mouldy leaf remains in mine !
My drive has trees next to it so this time of year would always clog when the leaves were blown under, I recall the slosh myself 
Must admit it took me a while to twig thats why it was damp inside, I think I had a thread on here at the time about it as I'd just assumed it was from parking next to an expanse of water.Do they still have the hidden glove box under the seat?
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